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Stunned Jeremie Frimpong last night insisted he was the victim of TWO spot-kick howlers from referee Alan Muir.

And the Celtic defender admits he feared another red nightmare card following the second of the whistler’s controversial weekend decisions against him.

Frimpong was left shellshocked at Muir’s double call in the wake of his team’s 2-1 win over Partick Thistle at Firhill.

In the first-half of the William Hill Scottish Cup-tie, the official waved away the teenager’s penalty appeals after he appeared to be pushed in the back by Jags defender James Penrice in the box.

Muir said no to that appeal, but did point to the spot in injury-time when he adjudged Frimpong to have taken Thistle sub Dario Zanatta down in the penalty area as he was trying to slot home.

Frimpong was left perplexed at the decisions which both went against him and puzzled that no explanation was offered to him by Muir as he sought clarification on being penalised for the second offence.

He said: “In the first half, I clearly got past him [Penrice]. I clearly was in front of him. He clipped me and the ref didn’t do nothing.

“Last minute, I was in front of him again and the ref gives it. I dunno. Maybe the ref doesn’t like me.

(Image: SNS Group)

“I asked: Ref, ref, talk me through it. What did I do? He didn’t say anything.

“He couldn’t say nothing anyway because it wasn’t a penalty. I don’t need to see it again. It wasn’t, but what can I do?

“Obviously, it made me feel bad because I conceded a penalty again, but even the players at the end were saying it was harsh. I don’t know what the ref was doing. It didn’t ruin a good performance, but it was not nice,

really.”

Penrice fought his corner over the first Frimpong penalty incident in the aftermath of the contest and explained: “I didn’t feel I touched him [Frimpong] enough to go down.

“I think that’s why a penalty was not given. He kind of ran up beside me and said: How is that not a pen? I said: I didn’t really touch you. But you get some and some you don’t.”

After Muir’s second shout again Frimpong, the Parkhead youngster feared he was going to be red carded having suffered a similar fate when punished for pulling down Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos in the Betfred Cup Final at Hampden six weeks ago.

Frimpong added: “I thought because it was a goalscoring opportunity, if it was a foul, he could give me a red. I don’t know why he didn’t give me a red.”

(Image: SNS Group)

Manager Neil Lennon backed his starlet over both incidents immediately after the contest.

He said: “I’m not happy with the penalty at all. Really disappointed with that decision. Jerry has made an unbelievable recovery and got his body across and the lad has put it wide.

“Myself and my staff were all in agreement that it wasn’t a penalty. The referee said he clipped his heels, but he didn’t. He actually got his body across the front of him. He’s stood up, been a good defender and put the guy off. He was feeling a bit aggrieved, but you have to admire his quality and desire to get back there. His will to get back and make a challenge is fantastic.

“[The first incident is] a push on the back, a definite penalty, Jeremie is at full pace and he has gone over. He has not dived, so I don’t know how that can’t be a penalty.”